Clothes peg

ABSTRACT

According to the invention there is provided a peg ( 10 ) comprising a first and a second pair of jaws ( 20  and  22 ), the jaws being movable between open and closed positions, the peg further including biasing means ( 30 ) for co-operation with the jaws for biasing them to their closed positions.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to a peg. In particular the invention concerns aclothes-peg for securing items of clothing to a washing line.

Various types of clothes-pegs are known to anybody who has ever had tosecure an item of clothing to a washing line. One example of an existingclothes-peg comprises two wooden legs which are secured to each otherwith the use of a resilient metal strip. At one end of the clothes-pegthe two wooden legs form a pair of jaws which is configured for grippingan item of clothing. At the other end the two legs provide a set oflevers which can be used to pivot the jaws into an open position, when aforce is applied to the legs by a user, such that a portion of an itemof clothing and a small section of a washing line can be located betweenthe jaws. When the user releases the levers, the jaws are closed underthe influence of the resilient metal strip, thereby securing theclothes-peg and the item of clothing to the washing line.

In another known type of a clothes-peg two polymeric legs are providedwhich also form a pair of jaws at one end and a set of levers at theother end for locating the jaws in an open position. As with the woodenpeg described above, the jaws of the polymeric legs are also biased to aclosed position but instead of a metal strip, a resilient polymericstrip is provided. The polymeric clothes-peg operates in a similarmanner as that described above for the wooden clothes-peg.

South Africa is currently experiencing a very rapid growth in the numberof townhouse and cluster complexes being developed. A drawback of thesenew developments is that they are normally relatively crowded and thatspace is limited. In particular, various owners of units in newdevelopments will attest that they do not have sufficient space on theirwashing lines for hanging their wet clothing.

Persons living in rural and urban informal settlements will also attestthat there is often a demand for sufficient space on which wet clothingcan be hung to dry.

It is an object of the present invention to address the above problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apeg comprising a first and a second pair of jaws, the jaws being movablebetween open and closed positions, the peg further including biasingmeans for co-operation with the jaws for biasing them to their closedpositions.

Preferably the two pairs of jaws are formed by two legs, each leg havinga first end and a second end wherein each end includes a grippingformation.

More preferably the two legs define a biasing means cavity in which thebiasing means can be located.

Advantageously each leg includes an actuating portion such that when acompressive force is applied to the actuating portions the jaws arelocated in their open positions.

Typically the actuation portion of each leg is provided by having eachleg profiled to form an apex.

Preferably the apexes of the legs lie opposite one another.

Alternatively the actuation portion of each leg is provided by havingeach leg profiled to form a finger gripping formation.

In an embodiment of the invention the biasing means comprises aresilient polymeric material which is sized for fitting inside thebiasing means cavity.

Typically holding formations are provided for securing the biasing meansinside the biasing means cavity.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a pegcomprising:

-   -   a pair of legs defining a pair of jaws which are movable between        open and closed positions, the legs also defining a biasing        means cavity; and    -   biasing means for location inside the biasing means cavity for        biasing the jaws to their closed positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a peg in accordance with the presentinvention wherein the jaws of the peg are located in their closedpositions;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the peg of the invention wherein the jawsof the peg are located in their open positions;

FIG. 3 shows a front view of two pegs of the invention in use forsecuring items of clothing to a washing line; and

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a peg in accordance with a secondembodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a peg in accordance with the present invention, generallyindicated with the reference numeral 10. In the description that followsbelow the operation of the peg will be described in its use as aclothes-peg. It will, however, be appreciated that the use of the peg ofthe invention need not be limited to securing clothes to a washing line.

The peg 10 comprises a first and a second leg, indicated respectivelywith the reference numerals 12 and 14. The two legs 12 and 14 areconnected to each other at connecting portions 16 and 18 as shown in thedrawings. Towards their ends the legs 12 and 14 include grippingformations 20 which are in this embodiment of the invention provided inthe form of serrated portions for providing sufficient grip for holdingunto an item of clothing. The legs 12 and 14 are configured to face eachother such that each corresponding gripping formation 20 define a pairof jaws, indicated respectively with the reference numerals 22 and 24.

As shown, the legs 12 and 14 have the same curved profile and each hasan apex 26 which is located toward the centre of its leg. It will benoted that the apexes 26 lie opposite one another. In this embodiment ofthe invention the apexes 26 will also act as actuating portions as willbe described below.

The peg 10 has a biasing means cavity 28 for receiving biasing means 30which can co-operate with the legs 12 and 14 for biasing the jaws 22 and24 to their closed position. The biasing means cavity 28 is formedbetween the two legs 12 and 14 and lies proximate the apexes 26. In thisembodiment of the invention the biasing means 30 comprises a resilientpolymeric material which is sized for fitting inside the biasing meanscavity 28. In order to secure the biasing means 30 to the legs 12 and14, two holding sections 32 and 34 are provided in which protrusions 36and 38 can respectively be held securely. Typically the biasing means 30will be manufactured separately and will be located in position by beingslid into the biasing means cavity 28 with the protrusions 36 and 38being slid into the holding portions 32 and 34 respectively.

Although not shown in the drawings, it is envisaged that the peg 10could include side panels for attachment to the sides of the peg 10thereby securing the biasing means 30 inside the biasing means cavity28.

The legs 12 and 14 of the described embodiment are in the form of solidpolymeric pieces. It is however envisaged that with a view of minimisingmaterial costs that the legs need not be solid polymeric pieces but mayinclude hollow zones in order to reduce the amount of polymeric materialbeing used.

When it is desired to locate the jaws 22 and 24 in their open positions,a user can apply a compressive force on the apexes 26 as indicated bythe arrows 40 and 42 in FIG. 2. As a compressive force is applied thejaws 22 and 24 will move towards their open positions as a result of theparticular shape of the legs 12 and 14. With continued compressive forcebeing exerted on the jaws 22 and 24 they will be located in their openpositions as shown in FIG. 2.

Simultaneously to the apexes 26 moving towards one another under theinfluence of the compressive force, the biasing means 30 will becomecompressed and its protrusions 36 and 38 will move along theirrespective holding portions 32 and 34 in the directions of the arrows 44and 46 respectively, in order to accommodate the deformation of thebiasing means 30. As soon as the user ceases to exert the compressiveforce on the apexes 26, the resilience of the biasing means 30 willagain urge the jaws 22 and 24 to their closed position.

Referring specifically to FIG. 2 of the drawings, it is pointed out thatadjacent each pair of jaws 22 and 24 a wire holding portion, indicatedrespectively with the reference numerals 48 and 50, is provided in whicha portion of a washing line can be held.

FIG. 3 shows two pegs 10.1 and 10.2 in use where a portion of a washingline is held inside the wire holding portion 48 of the peg 10.1. An itemof clothing 54 is held inside the jaws 24 of the peg 10.1 as shown. Thepeg 10.2 in turn grips a bottom portion of the item of clothing 54 withits jaws 22 and holds a second item of clothing 56 in its jaws 24.

FIG. 4 shows a peg 70 in accordance with a second embodiment of theinvention. The peg 70 includes two legs 72 and 74 which form a pair ofjaws 76 and 78 as well as a biasing means cavity 80. As the peg 70operates in the same manner as the peg 10 no further description isrequired. The peg 70 does, however, differ from the peg 10 in thatinstead of an apex, each leg 72 and 74 includes a finger grippingformation 82 in which fingers of a user, typically the thumb and indexfinger of the user, may be placed when the user is desirous to locatethe jaws 76 and 78 in their open position. Although not visible in thedrawings, each gripping formation 82 includes fine ridges for enhancingthe grip provided for the fingers of the user.

The peg 70 includes a number of protrusions 84 on the insides of thelegs 72 and 74 which define holding formations 86 in which biasing means88 is held. The legs 72 and 74 also include ridges 90 and 92 forenhancing the strength of the peg 70.

In order to enhance grip on garments to be held, the jaws 76 and 78 eachincludes teeth, not visible in the drawings. In order to facilitateeasier connection unto a washing line or unto a garment to be held, eachpair of jaws 76 and 78 includes a pair of lips, 94 and 96 which areshaped as shown and wherein each pair of lips curve away from eachother.

It is envisaged that by having jaws 76 and 78 as well as washing lineholding portions 98 and 100 which are larger in dimension that those ofthe peg 10, the peg 70 will be better suited for handling relativelythick garments as well as washing lines of relatively thick diameter. Itis also envisaged that the larger jaws 76 and 78 will enable the peg 70to be secured to a clothes hanger.

The pegs of the invention will typically be produced from a plasticsmaterial and will preferably include a form of ultraviolet protectionfor shielding the pegs against the damaging effects of sunlight.

Although not specifically described above it is envisaged that the firstand second legs and the biasing means respectively need not necessarilybe separate components but could be unitary construction.

By providing a peg having two pairs of jaws which can secure items ofclothing to a washing line, the amount of clothing which can be hungfrom a washing line can be optimised.

1. A peg comprising a first and a second pair of jaws, the jaws beingmovable between open and closed positions, the peg further includingbiasing means for co-operation with the jaws for biasing them to theirclosed positions.
 2. A peg according to claim 1 wherein the two pairs ofjaws are formed by two legs, each leg having a first end and a secondend wherein each end includes a gripping formation.
 3. A peg accordingto claim 2 wherein the two legs define a biasing means cavity in whichthe biasing means can be located.
 4. A peg according to claim 2 whereineach leg includes an actuating portion such that when a compressiveforce is applied to the actuating portions the jaws are located in theiropen positions.
 5. A peg according to claim 4 wherein the actuationportion of each leg is provided by having each leg profiled to form anapex.
 6. A peg according to claim 5 wherein the apexes of the legs lieopposite one another.
 7. A peg according to claim 4 wherein theactuation portion of each leg is provided by having each leg profiled toform a finger gripping formation.
 8. A peg according to claim 3 whereinthe biasing means comprises a resilient polymeric material which issized for fitting inside the biasing means cavity.
 9. A peg according toclaim 3 including holding formations for securing the biasing meansinside the biasing means cavity.
 10. A peg comprising: a pair of legsdefining a pair of jaws which are movable between open and closedpositions, the legs also defining a biasing means cavity; and biasingmeans for location inside the biasing means cavity for biasing the jawsto their closed positions.
 11. (canceled)